Robert Hargrove, the mind behind Masterful Coaching and a leader at the Harvard Leadership Project, delves into his coaching origins, advocating for a goal-centric approach that drives significant outcomes while redefining success. He highlights how, despite the challenges posed by organizational structures, there’s a universal aspiration among individuals to thrive and impact positively. Robert underscores the critical role of authenticity and self-assurance when engaging with top executives, urging his audience to ambitiously envision beyond the usual limits. Further, he points out that the core of effective coaching lies in compassion and earnest support for both personal and professional development.
Key Takeaways:
[04:59] Robert shares the transition of his journey, recalling his early days organizing leadership weekends, driven by a passion to foster leadership skills. These became the foundation of his work in personal transformation seminars, leading to opportunities to implement similar programs in corporate settings, catalyzing cultural shifts and visionary leadership within organizations.
[9:16] He talks about coaching and how it’s changed over time. He believes coaching is about helping people achieve big goals, not just getting better at what they already do. Robert thinks coaching should focus on winning and getting results, like in sports, rather than just learning skills. In the end, he is still passionate about coaching as a way to help people reach their dreams and make big things happen.
[15:23] Throughout his career, Robert shares that he has noticed a big change in what counts as success in business. It used to be all about making quick money for investors or climbing the corporate ladder. But with his approach to coaching, he’s trying to change that. Inspired by thinkers like James McGregor Burns, Robert sees coaching as a way to lift people’s goals and motivations, especially those in power like CEOs. His aim is to help them connect with their highest values and ideals, making a real impact in their lives.
[16:45] In his coaching practice, Robert considers the question of what “winning” means to individuals and businesses. While he believes in letting people define success for themselves, he also emphasizes the importance of elevating their understanding of what constitutes true success. He engages in dialogue with others, encouraging them to share their perspectives on this matter.
[19:14] He shares that the key to fulfillment for many seems to lie in discovering their passion, becoming a leader in their field, and making a meaningful impact on the world or within the organization. Robert also mentions that people inherently desire to excel and make a difference, but often encounter obstacles within organizational hierarchies and bureaucracies. Over his years of coaching, he has observed that many individuals express frustration with their bosses as a significant challenge. This highlights the importance of leadership coaching as a means to address such issues and empower individuals to unlock their full potential.
[22:57] Robert recounts working with a dynamic leader passionate about sustainability, but who lost confidence and became overly deferential upon promotion to CEO in a larger division. Despite coaching efforts, the leader chooses security over personal growth, prioritizing approval from higher-ups and conforming to corporate hierarchy.
[25:20] He shares his current focus on working with influential figures, including political leaders and celebrities, using their coaching skills for high leverage. Robert expresses a desire to collaborate with others, including the listener, to coach individuals on their list of influential people, aiming to expand it further and potentially advertise his services. He also introduces a new program called “Create a Legendary Company,” which aims to help CEOs and entrepreneurs build companies that positively impact lives and generate significant revenue. Robert outlines seven business drivers for achieving exponential growth and emphasizes the importance of adopting a “TEN X MINDSET” for substantial improvement.
[30:09] Robert shares insights on executive presence, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and confidence in interactions with high-ranking individuals. He stresses the need for normalcy in conversations and appearance, highlighting that executives should approach discussions with CEOs or other leaders just as they would with family members. Additionally, he suggests that starting one’s own business can instill a sense of confidence and swagger, contributing to executive presence.
[34:21] He encourages listeners to dare to dream beyond conventional boundaries, urging them to embrace the limitless potential of their imaginations. Robert emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals, noting that many individuals struggle to articulate their aspirations. He also highlights the essence of coaching as rooted in kindness and a genuine desire to help others. Regardless of financial compensation, he expresses a deep-seated love for assisting people in their personal and professional growth.
[35:39] Closing Quote: Remember, intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death. -Albert Einstein.
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Quotable Quotes:
"Better leaders, better world." Share on X "I want to help people become the leaders that the world needs." Share on X "Life's journey involved understanding the interplay of nature, nurture, and the transformative power of self-reflection." Share on X "Leaders develop by leading people to actually make something happen that wasn't supposed to happen, making vision reality." Share on X "The ultimate statement of your consciousness as a leader is your ability to produce extraordinary, intangible results." Share on X "Coaching is about going for an impossible dream." Share on X "The coach is usually someone who carries himself with a lot of dignity, a little bit of swagger, and interacts with people with toughness and compassion." Share on X "Coaching is really about elevating people's aspirations and motivations." Share on X "Capitalism needs to be an agent of social change." Share on X "Three P's: purpose, people, and profit." Share on X "Becoming a leader in their field to lead their field." Share on X "Life is politics, and we can't divorce ourselves from it." Share on X "Grow your leadership and your business simultaneously." Share on X "If you're connected to higher vision and values, you will radiate moral authority." Share on X "Conduct yourself with leadership maturity.” Share on X "Respond rather than react under stress and pressure." Share on X "Dare to dream beyond the wildest possible of your imagination." Share on X "The basis of coaching is kindness.” Share on X "Remember to always encourage and support others in their dreams and goals." Share on X
This is the book mentioned in our discussion with Robert:
Resources Mentioned:
- The Leadership Podcast | theleadershippodcast.com
- Sponsored by | www.darley.com
- Rafti Advisors. LLC | www.raftiadvisors.com
- Self-Reliant Leadership. LLC | selfreliantleadership.com
- Robert Hargrove LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/roberthargrove1
- Robert Hargrove Website | www.masterfulcoaching.com
- Robert Hargrove Website | www.myfirst100days.net
- Masterful Coaching Instagram | www.instagram.com/masterfulcoaching
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